“(Mario Kart) balances its distribution of items so that players who are behind in the race are more likely to be given stronger items,” Aziz explains, adding that he believes this approach to gameplay could benefit the American economy.

“With income inequality rising to its highest level in decades, and the proportion of Americans born poor staying poor rising to 70 percent,” he argued, “I think economic policy-makers could learn a few lessons from Mario Kart's system for making sure the race is both rewarding and fair.”